§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, as all the bayonets in the hands of the Regular Infantry have now been re-tested, he can state what was the test to which they were submitted, and when it was introduced, how many were so tested, and how many failed to pass the test?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The long triangular Martini-Henry bayonets and the sword bayonets in the United Kingdom have been re-tested. The former were sprung on all three faces round a curved block 2½ inches high in the centre—struck twice on each flat, and gauged; also a large percentage were twisted from point to socket through a quarter of a circle; 40,180 in the hands of the troops, and 123,400 in store were thus tested; 4¾ per cent of those with the troops and 3 per cent of those in store broke; 4¾ per cent with the troops and 1½ per cent in store were under gauge; 21½ per cent with the troops and 11 per cent in store were found to be soft; and 69 per cent of those with the troops and 84½ per cent of those in store passed the re-testing. Of the sword bayonets, 12,800 in the hands of troops and 22,000 in store were re-tested by being sprung round a curved block 2½ inches high, or over a bridge giving the same bend, struck on an oak block on back and edge and on each flat, troughed, and gauged; 90 per cent of those with troops and 89½ per cent of those in store passed the test. Of the remainder, in each case 9 per cent were soft, and 1 per cent of those with the troops and 1½ per cent of those in store broke. Of the weapons which were returned as "soft," 50 per cent of the sword bayonets passed, after being re-hardened and tempered; and of the triangular bayonets, 75 per cent of those from the troops and 86 per cent of those in store passed under similar circumstances. As a much larger proportion of the weapons in the hands of the troops failed to pass the test than of those in store, it is evident that the bayonets have seriously deteriorated since their issue to the troops. Troops at home are, of course, all armed with re-tested bayonets. Supplies have been sent to the Mediterranean, Egypt, and South Africa, and those in the hands of the troops at those stations have been recalled for the purpose of being re-tested. Those only that pass the re-test will be placed in store. As previously stated, the bayonets in possession of the Militia will be re-tested during the present year, and replaced as necessary. I will now, with the permission of the House, refer to two Questions as to imperfect arms 517 which my hon. Friend has previously addressed to me. He inquired as to an alleged testing, with very bad results, of the swords of the Royal Horse Guards in October last; but the officer commanding the regiment reports that no such test took place. Then, as regards the shovels which broke in the hands of men of the East Kent Regiment at Dover, I have to say that they were of a pattern introduced in 1871 from America as reserve intrenching tools. It was soon found that they were too light for ordinary unskilled work, and in 1875 a heavier and stronger pattern was introduced for general service; but the store of the light pattern was retained to be used gradually up. The tool is really a shovel, and answers fairly well at Chatham in the hands of the Sappers; but it is not fit for use as a spade thrust into heavy soil. The central store of these shovels at Woolwich is exhausted. Those at out-stations will be recalled, and replaced by proper spades. Steps are in progress to thoroughly overhaul all intrenching tools, and to reject from store all as to the utility of which there can be any serious doubt. There remains the question of the sword bayonets of the City of London Artillery Volunteers. After repeated applications, since my hon. Friend's Question, I have only this afternoon received Colonel Hope's Report as to the tests to which they were subjected. I should, therefore, prefer to reply on this point to-morrow.
§ MR. HANBURYasked, whether the test to which the sword bayonets had been recently subjected was the same as that to which they were subjected when they were first issued?
§ MR. E. STANHOPENo; it is a much more severe test. Of course, the original testing took place along time ago.
§ SIR HENRY HAVELOCK-ALLAN (Durham, S.E.)inquired, whether the new test would be applied to the intrenchment shovels in the possession of the Infantry?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, he understood that the arms and tools of all troops would be overhauled.